LIVEBLOG: Third and Final Presidential Debate At Hofstra University (October 15, 2008)

[NOTE: all times are central standard time]

6:40: As usual, we will be live blogging tonight’s final presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama.  The debate is taking place at Hofstra University.  It is set to begin at 9PM (eastern time).  It will be moderated by CBS’ Bob Schieffer.  The focus will be on domestic and economic issues.  As usual, we’ll be doing a post-debate podcast.  If you’re interested, take a moment to subscribe to our podcast.

7:23: If you’re looking to watch the debate video online, you can check out C-SPAN’s debate hub.  Just shield your ears from the agonizing call in show that precedes these debates.

7:33: The Executive Director of the Commission on Presidential Debates is talking about the significance of the debates both nationally and internationally.  In discussing the international perception and role of our debates, she said:

In all cases, they see our debates as integral to the democratic process.  And they believe that it’s remarkable that the American public thinks they have the right to expect the candidates for high office will stand in a neutral setting and talk to each other freely about important issues and ideas.

All I can say in response to this is: no.  “Talk to each other freely”?  Hardly.  These debates are incredibly scripted and controlled, with virtually every detail negotiated and agreed to by the campaigns in advance.  I’m not trying to bash the debates, but, let’s at least be honest with ourselves.  Like past debates, tonight’s debate is hardly a “debate.”

7:50: Look, we’re not only a nation of red states and blue states.  We’re also a nation of bright red outfits and bright blue outfits.  Michelle Obama is wearing blue, Cindy McCain is wearing red.  Sigh.  I wouldn’t note this, except, even these kinds of decisions are influenced or controlled by campaigns.  This is our politics.

7:55: Hillary is in the house.  She’s sitting pretty far back from the stage.

8:00: And, it begins…

8:02: First question: Why is your economic plan better than your opponent’s?

8:04: McCain says that primary cause of the economic problem is the housing crisis.  And, he notes his plan to use $300 billion to directly assist with the failing mortgages.  Obama notes the need to address multiple factors.  Neither had nothing new to say here.

8:08: McCain follow-up question: He asks Obama about his recent exchange with “Joe the plumber” and notes that Joe was concerned that Obama’s tax plan would hurt him.  Obama responds that Joe was mistaken, and that his plan would cut taxes for a significant portion of Americans.

8:10: McCain doesn’t understand why Obama wants to raise taxes at all, even if it’s on the richest Americans.  He chides Obama for wanting to spread the wealth.

8:12: Obama mentions Buffet again.

8:14: Question 2: How would you cut spending? (ugh, how many times are they going to ask this question)

8:15: Obama talks about the need to change our culture a bit, and the need for people and corporations to become more responsible.  Obviously, he doesn’t want to answer this question with any specificity.

8:16: What would McCain Cut? He argues that we need to become energy independent by building nuclear power.  Unfortunately for McCain, even if we started building power plants the day he took office, it would not have an effect on power for too many years to actually satisfy the short term need he talked about.  He goes on to talk about an across the board spending freeze.  The one specific example he offered was ethanol subsidies.  That’s not going to go over well in the heartland, even though our ethanol program does need to be reworked totally.  It can’t just be a cut in ethanol subsidies though, there would need to be additional reforms to make up for the losses those farmers would suffer.  Dah well…

8:20: McCain says that he is not President Bush.  Then talks about his fight for reform, ethic and fiscal responsibility.  He then challenges Obama to give examples when he has stood against his own party.

8:22: Obama says that he supports tort reform, charter schools and clean coal.  Each of which, he argues alienate an element of the base.  Pander Alert! The clean coal thing was just added in there to help support

8:24: Question 3: Are you willing to say face-to-face what your campaigns have said about your opponent?

8:25: McCain hits Obama on not accepting his offer to participate in town halls, which he considers to be one of the causes of the current tenor of the campaign.  He also criticized Obama for changing his position on campaign finance.

8:27: Obama says that people expect presidential campaigns to be tough. And adds that 100% of McCain’s ads have been negative.  He also pointed to some negative 527 group ads that are being run against him.  I don’t think Obama needed to bring up the 527s, especially since, this line of argumentation would reflect poorly on him as well given some of the really harsh 527s that are being run against McCain about his age and health.

8:30: McCain criticizes Obama for not criticizing Rep. Lewis.

8:31: Obama retorts by noting that his campaign did criticize Lewis’ statement.  He adds that Palin saying he pals around with terrorists, and the lack of response to some of the strong words from supporters, like “kill him,” that have come out at rallies have not been productive.

8:34: McCain’s response is beyond bizarre.  He says he isn’t going to let Obama criticize the people at his rallies that wear “women for mccain” t-shirts or the men that wear VFW hats.  This is total nonsense.  There is definitley a better response to this and I have no idea why McCain didn’t offer it.

8:36: ACORN and Ayers are discussed.

8:39: McCain continues to try and portray Obama’s relationship with Ayers and ACORN as substantial.  If this is the argument that McCain wants to make, again, the campaign needed to figure out a better way to articulate this message.  However, they didn’t.  It’s inconsistent and somewhat confusing.

8:40: Question 4: Why would the country be better off if your runningmate became president?

8:41: Obama notes Biden’s foreign policy experience and offers some legislative accomplishments he has made.

8:42: McCain says that Americans have gotten to know Sarah Palin. Calls her a reformer and a role model for women.  He cites her experience within the Alaskan energy sector.  McCain also talks about Sarah Palin’s work on behalf of special needs education, like autism.

8:44: Obama circles back to point out that across the board spending, which McCain said he would do in the beginning of the debate, would prevent the advancement of special needs programs.

8:45: McCain criticizes Biden for voting against first gulf war.  Calls his recent partioning plan in Iraq cockamammy.  McCain responds by wondering why Obama is always talking about more spending.  In other words, he wonders why research and development can’t be free.

8:46: How much can U.S. reduce dependence on Foreign Oil?

8:46: McCain says that it would take about 45 nuclear power plants and he gave a target number of 7 years or so before significant gains would be made.

8:48: Obama says that energy independence can happen within 10 years.  He notes that domestic oil will not satisfy our demands.  He talks about a few examples of alternative energy.  One of the things he talked about, which will resonate well in key states like Michigan, is the need to manufacture a fuel efficient car in the U.S.

8:51: McCain criticizes some of Obama’s initiatives as underming of free trade.  He specifically notes that Obama didn’t support the Columbian Free Trade Agreement.

8:53: Obama gives a reason for not supporting the Columbian Free Trade Agreement.  It has to do with human rights abuses.

8:55: McCain responds by saying that Obama doesn’t support the Columbian free trade agreement because of human rights concerns, but is willing to negotiate with Hugo Chavez.  He concludes by saying that Obama is like an isolationist and will raise taxes, then compares Obama to Hubert Humphrey.  The two aren’t exactly the same, it’d be nice if McCain provided a reasoned argument or a syllogism at some point in this debate.

8:56: Question: Do you favor controlling health care costs over expanding coverage?  If I liveblogged this, it would actually be unfair to John McCain.   Obama is simply outclassing McCain on this subject.  He is communicating his plan in more understandable terms than McCain’s.  That’s not to say that Obama’s plan is better, I am not endorsing one plan over another.  But, in terms of performance, McCain’s performance on this subject tonight was simply bad.  Obama’s wasn’t flawless, but at least you could understand his argument, even if you disagree.

9:06: Could you nominate a Supreme Court justice who differs with your view on Roe v. Wade?  McCain wouldn’t apply an litmus test and will appoint strict constructionists.  Obama says he understands that abortion is a difficult subject, says that he supports Roe v. Wade and believes that is important.  He gives an example of the equal pay, for equal work case that just came up.  Too much to get into here, but listen to our podcast for a discussion of it.  This was a very interesting exchange.

9:15: Does poor performance in school pose a threat to national security?

9:16: Obama notes that there is a national security element to education. Says the debate is between more money or reform.  Obama says we need both. Talks about his reforms in primary schools, recruitment of new teachers, recruiting of math and science teachers, etc.  He closes on the need for parents to play a larger role in the education of their children.

9:19: McCain says that education is a civil rights issue.  Adds that there needs to be competition in schools.  Is this a subtle argument for vouchers?  Also, says that charter schools are a good step. Alright…

9:20: Should federal government play a larger role in education?

9:21: Short answers: Obama, yes.  McCain, I really can’t tell based on his response.

9:22: Obama says that he also supports charter schools, but does not support vouchers.  McCain points to the voucher program in DC and argues for vouchers more generally.

9:25: As a debater, I didnt flow rebuttals.  Accordingly, I will not be blogging the closing remarks.

9:28: First thoughts?  Obama was on point, McCain was all over the map. This is not a partisan perspective, it’s not based on the policies that they advocated.  Rather, it is based on the how effective the candidates argued their opinions.

As an aside, this is not the best live blog that I’ve done.  The format was not conducive to a live blog.  We’re going to be posting a podcast shortly with full analysis, so subscribe to our podcast if you’re interested…